Our Behaviour?

The Day of ʿĀshūrāʾ and Our Behavior Towards It

Islamically, the 10th of Muḥarram is a day of showing gratitude to Allāh. Why? What happened on this day? Allāh tabārak wa taʿālā saved Mūsā عليه السلام and his people from firʿaūn and his helpers. So, did Mūsā عليه السلام spend this day as a day of sadness or as a day of gratitude? He spent it as a day of gratitude. His way of showing gratitude did not include dancing or holding a procession in public, nor did he lighten up or pasted small flags, rather he kept a Ṣawm (fast) on this day. So, we should too, spend this day as a day of gratitude and show gratitude by keeping a Ṣawm. And Nabī صلى الله عليه وسلم said that “I have more rights on Mūsā than the Jews”, thus he also kept fast on this day and commanded others to keep its Ṣawm. He also said that if I'll be alive coming year, I will keep the Ṣawm of 9th Muḥarram to not have any resemblance to the Jews but rather to have a contradiction these days are the days of keeping Ṣawm, showing gratitude to Allāh.

Sadly, in Muslim societies and countries, this day has been the day of sadness, and instead of keeping Ṣawm, they arrange sabīl (food), and sweet drink is distributed so people may not keep Ṣawm. The grandfather of Ḥusayn left us with this day as a day of Ṣawm and explained so many virtuous of keeping Ṣawm on this day to the extent that he said that he is hopeful for the one who will keep Ṣawm on this day that Allāh will forgive his past year's sins, this (keeping Ṣiyām on this day) is the dīn of Huṣayn and his grandfather. But those who use the name of Janāb Ḥusayn and claim to love him but do not implement his sīrah (biography) rather these people have changed the value of this day and made it a day of sadness, wailing and mourning, and this day sabīl and drinks are served so people may not keep Ṣawm. My brothers, this is a tremendous day when a Ṣawm is kept and that is what sharīʿah (Islamic Legislation) demands from us hence spend it with much honor.

The Nabī said - transmitted by Bukhārī and Muslim:

When it is the day of Ṣawm, then do not make noises, do not fight with anyone, and do not speak lie rather if someone tries to fight with you, you say to him certainly I'm in a state of Ṣawm.